Data from: Polyandry and the decrease of a selfish genetic element in a wild house mouse population
Data files
Apr 19, 2011 version files 29.59 KB
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F_values.txt
1.84 KB
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female_survival.txt
1.85 KB
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litter_sizes.txt
2.89 KB
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male_survival.txt
1.99 KB
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mx_curve.txt
421 B
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README_for_F_values.txt
453 B
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README_for_female_survival.txt
381 B
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README_for_litter_sizes.txt
191 B
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README_for_male_survival.txt
376 B
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README_for_mx_curve.txt
267 B
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README_for_simulations.txt
526 B
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README_for_t_dynamics.txt
313 B
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simulations.txt
1.56 KB
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t_dynamics.txt
16.53 KB
Abstract
Despite deleterious effects on individuals, the t haplotype is a selfish genetic element present in many house mouse populations. By distorting the transmission ratio, +/t males transmit the t haplotype to up to 90% of their offspring. However, t/t individuals perish in utero. Theoretical models based on these properties predict a much higher t frequency than observed, leading to the t paradox. Here, we use empirical field data and theoretical approaches to investigate whether polyandry is a female counterstrategy against the negative fitness consequences of such distorters. We found a significant decrease of the t frequency over a period of 5.5 years that cannot be explained by the effect of transmission ratio distortion and recessive lethals, despite significantly higher life expectancy of +/t females compared to +/+ females. We quantified life history data and homozygous and heterozygous fitness effects. Population subdivision and inbreeding were excluded as evolutionary force influencing the t system. The possible influence of polyandry on the t system was then investigated by applying a stochastic model to this situation. Simulations show that polyandry can explain the observed t dynamics, making it a biologically plausible explanation for low t frequencies in natural populations in general.